Following a meeting with representatives from the Maldives, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and the Seychelles, Indian Deputy National Security Advisor Vikram Misri affirmed that the Colombo Security Conclave “remains central” to regional cooperation on issues surrounding cybersecurity, trafficking, organised crime, terrorism, and maritime safety and security.
According to a statement released by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, member states India, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Mauritius gathered in Kochi on Thursday to speak about the Roadmap for Cooperation in 2022-2023.
More visuals from Deputy NSAs meet of Colombo security conclave in Kochi. pic.twitter.com/03v9bacBJX
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) July 7, 2022
Crucially, they discussed the progress made on five pillars for cooperation reached during the fifth National Security Advisor level meet in March: maritime safety and security; countering terrorism and radicalisation; combatting trafficking and transnational organised crime, cybersecurity and protection of critical infrastructure and technology; and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. Bangladesh and Seychelles were invited to participate as observer states.
They also “reaffirmed their commitment to engage in consistent joint efforts to achieving regional peace and security” and agreed to set up “robust mechanisms for coordinated responses.”
Foreign Secretary Ahmed Latheef attends the 6th Deputy National Security Adviser Level Meeting of the Colombo Security Conclave in Kochi, India, today, as Head of Delegation of the Maldives. pic.twitter.com/dobPE942Tw
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs 🇲🇻 (@MoFAmv) July 7, 2022
In this regard, Sri Lankan Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Shavendra Silva suggested establishing joint working groups to counter the common threats such as terrorism, violent extremism, radicalisation, trafficking, and transnational crime. He said, “In this increasingly connected world, the tendency of cooperation between radical groups in regional countries has been a common phenomenon.”
Yoidhisteer Thecka, the Mauritian Principle Coordinator of Security Matters in the Prime Minister’s office, also echoed this sentiment and called for the increased use of “technology and bilateral cooperation” to strengthen maritime security and safety and tackle threats such as cyberattacks, drug trafficking, illegal fishing, and environmental degradation.
6th meet of Deputy National Security Advisors of at Colombo Security Conclave , #kochi
— Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) July 7, 2022
Member nations are #india #maldives #mauritius #srilanka #bangladesh & #seychelles are observers
CSC was established in 2011 an focuses on maritime safety& security, countering terror etc pic.twitter.com/mNp1Nt33Nc
Building on Thecka’s comments on environmental protection, Maldivian Foreign Secretary Ahmed Latheef said the Conclave awards the “highest priority” to the protection of coastal communities and marine resources. He also stressed on the need to counter climate change and the rising severity of natural disasters. To this end, Latheef said that every member country should be “on the same footing” in terms of skill, capacity, and understanding and should allow the free flow of information, knowledge and experience.
Seychelles’ Chief of Staff of Defence Forces Col. Simon Archange Dine, too, underscored the need to protect oceans and marine resources.
We have responsibility towards neighbors be it disaster management or security for them, we've been doing it. We recently had an example of countires coming together when Colombo Security Conclave was held to tackle maritime threats in Indian ocean: NSA Ajit Doval pic.twitter.com/eR7Nz71vfI
— ANI (@ANI) June 30, 2022
Meanwhile, Bangladeshi Defence Advisor at the High Commission in New Delhi Mohammed Abdul Kalam Azad focussed on the need to facilitate the repatriation of Rohingya refugees, around one million of whom live in Bangladesh. Azad said, “Myanmar nationals, facing an uncertain future, are becoming attracted to violence, extremism, radicalism, drugs and human trafficking.” In this regard, he urged India to play an “effective role” in expediting their repatriation, noting that New Delhi and Dhaka shared a “common sense of security arising out of this situation.”
The Colombo Security Conclave was established by Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in 2011 when he was serving as the Secretary of the Ministry of Defence. It is becoming an increasingly important platform to facilitate cooperation in the Indian Ocean, especially since bilateral issues between India and Pakistan have left the SAARC largely ineffective.
Last November, India, the Maldives, and Sri Lanka participated in a two-day maritime exercise under the “Colombo Security Conclave Focussed Operation” with the aim of protecting commercial shipping, international trade, and legitimate maritime activities.